How to Read a Respiratory Supplement Label (Step by Step)
TL;DR
- Start with serving size and servings per container — everything else is per serving.
- A proprietary blend lists ingredients by weight but hides individual amounts; the blend total is the only number you get.
- Extract ratios, enzyme units, other ingredients and the cautions line tell you more than the front of the bottle.
1️⃣ Serving size and servings per container
Every number on a Supplement Facts panel refers to one serving. A liquid may list 0.60 mL or 1 mL; a capsule product may list two capsules. Multiply servings by the cost to find the real price per day. The BreathiZen panel, for example, prints a 0.60 mL serving and 100 servings per 60 mL bottle.
2️⃣ Amount per serving and % Daily Value
Vitamins and minerals carry a % Daily Value. Botanicals carry a dagger (†) meaning no daily value has been established — standard wording, not a warning.
Looking for the product?BreathiZen is our once-daily botanical liquid for respiratory wellness — sold only on the official website.
Check Availability →3️⃣ Proprietary blends
A proprietary blend lists its components in descending order by weight and gives one total (for example, 154 mg). It does not tell you how much of each ingredient is present. Brands use blends to protect formulas; buyers should understand the trade-off and ask whether the total is plausible for the number of ingredients. We print our blend exactly as labelled and say openly that per-herb amounts are not broken out.
4️⃣ Extract ratios and standardisation
'10:1' means ten parts raw herb were concentrated into one part extract. 'Standardised to 5% gingerols' means a specific compound is guaranteed at that level. Either tells you more about potency than the herb name alone. For enzymes like bromelain, look for activity units (GDU) rather than milligrams.
5️⃣ Other ingredients
This line lists carriers, preservatives and flavours — purified water and glycerin in a liquid, cellulose and rice flour in capsules. Food-grade preservatives such as potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are normal in water-based liquids. Check this line for allergens and for anything you prefer to avoid.
6️⃣ Directions, cautions and the disclaimer
- Suggested use — how much, how often, shake before use
- Cautions — pregnancy, nursing, under-18, medical conditions, medications
- Storage — cool, dry, away from light
- Safety seal — do not use if missing or damaged
- FDA disclaimer — required on every supplement that makes structure/function claims; it is a legal statement, not a quality signal either way
7️⃣ Who makes it and how to reach them
A distributor name, physical address and a working contact are minimum requirements. 'Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients' and 'manufactured in an FDA-registered facility' are legitimate statements; 'FDA approved' on a supplement is not. See our buyer's guide for the full red-flag list.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What does a proprietary blend mean on a supplement label?
It means the ingredients are listed by weight order with one combined total, and individual amounts are not disclosed.
What does 10:1 extract mean?
Ten parts of the raw plant were concentrated into one part of the finished extract, making it more concentrated than dried herb by weight.
Is the FDA disclaimer a bad sign?
No. Every dietary supplement making structure/function claims must carry it by law. It tells you the product is a supplement, not a drug.
Where BreathiZen fits: this guide supports the BreathiZen official page. Read the full product information, pricing and 60-day guarantee there before ordering.
- FDA – Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide
- NIH ODS – How to read a Supplement Facts label
- 21 CFR 101.36 – Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements
Sources describe individual ingredients or general respiratory health; they are not studies of the finished BreathiZen formula.